Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident - Eoin Colfer

This is a book about an ex-criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl, whose dad has been taken by the Russian Mafia. Artemis and his bodyguard Butler go out to rescue him but on the way, they meet some old friends, Commander Julius Root and Captain Holly Short, who are fairies with nuclear weapons. The book was interesting because the fairies use fascinating technology. This is an easy reading book for Secondary I and II students.

Book Review by Jake Hoffman

Last Days of Summer – Steven Kluger

The interesting thing about this book is that it is written entirely in letters, newspaper clippings, and psychiatric interviews. The story takes place between 1940 – 1942 in America and recounts the story of a young Jewish boy, Joey, and Charlie Banks, a famous baseball player as they develop a rather unexpected relationship. At the same time, the war is progressing and Joey is dealing with it in America, which provides a different perspective of the war from the perspective in most books I’ve read. This book is recommended for students from Secondary II to Secondary V.

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging - by Louise Rennison

This review was adapted from the column written by Elissa Gurman and Tamara Rozansky which appeared in the October 2003 issue of the Bialik Censored.

Plot:
This book reveals the diary of wacky, British, boy-crazy Georgia Nicolson as she
stumbles through teenager-dom. It includes a glossary of hilarious British expressions you wish you had the guys to say. (eg: “bugger: a swear word. It doesn’t really mean anything but neither do a lot of swear words. Or parents.”)

Ratings:
Elissa says: 4 out of 5. This book is really funny and weird (in a good way).
Tamara says: 3.5 out of 5. This book is a bit repetitive but so funny that you’ll laugh for days.

Sequels:
(In Order) On the Bright Side, I’m Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God, Knocked Out by my Nunga-Nungas, Dancing in my Nuddypants

Confessions of a Shopaholic – by Sophie Kinsella

This review was adapted from the column written by Elissa Gurman and Tamara Rozansky which appeared in the October 2003 issue of the Bialik Censored.

Plot:
Becky Bloomwood is a crazy British woman who can’t hold on to a dollar. As her debt mounts, she tries to organize her life, financially and romantically.

Review:
Elissa says: 2 out of 5. This book made me so frustrated that I wanted to hurt the main character, repeatedly.
Tamara says: 4 out of 5. This is a hilarious book, but it does become frustrating when it seems like the main character’s problems are unsolvable.

Sequels:
(In order) Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Shopaholic Ties the Knot

Gossip Girl – by Cecily Ziegesar

This review was adapted from the column written by Elissa Gurman and Tamara Rozansky which appeared in the October 2003 issue of the Bialik Censored.

Plot:
See into the minds of six snobby rich kids from Park Avenue, New York. Hear about their shopping days at Barney’s wild parties and crazy vacations to exclusive resorts. Loaded with nasty gossip.

Ratings:
Elissa says:1.5 out of 5. I really, really, really, don’t like this one. The characters are so shallow.
Tamara says: 5 out of 5. Best book ever! Fall in love with all the characters and see the scoop behind the scenes from one mysterious gossip girl.

Sequels:
(In Order) You Know You Love Me, All I Want is Everything

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - by Ann Brashares

This review was adapted from the column written by Elissa Gurman and Tamara Rozansky which appeared in the October 2003 issue of the Bialik Censored.

Plot:
Four best friends embarking on their first summer without one another decide to share a pair of jeans. As the pants get passed from girl to girl, readers learn about four very different summer experiences.

Ratings:
Elissa says: 3.5 out of 5. This book is a heart warmer. An “awww” read.
Tamara says: 3 out of 5. This book was very good, but not really that funny and I often got confused about which character was which.

Sequel:
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood

Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident - Eoin Colfer

This is a book about an ex-criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl, whose dad has been taken by the Russian Mafia. Artemis and his bodyguard Butler go out to rescue him but on the way, they meet some old friends, Commander Julius Root and Captain Holly Short, who are fairies with nuclear weapons. The book was interesting because the fairies use fascinating technology. This is an easy reading book for Secondary I and II students.

Book Review by Jake Hoffman

Feeling Sorry for Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty

Life isn’t going well for high school student Elizabeth Clarry. Her absentee father just moved back to Australia and wants to spend “quality time” with her. She’s getting anonymous love notes from a boy whose identity she can’t figure out. Worst of all, her best friend has run away to join the circus.
Throughout the novel, her actions are scrutinized by the “Association of Teenagers” which comments on her ability to function like a normal adolescent.
This is a quirky story that is a lot of fun to read.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

The action follows 11 year old Lyra Belacqua from her home at Oxford University to the frozen wasteland of the north on a quest to save dozens of kidnapped children from the evil ‘Gobblers’ who are using them as part of a sinister experiment involving dust. Lyra must also rescue her father from the panserbjorne, a race of talking, armored mercenary polar bears holding him captive. This book is full of interesting concepts and plot twists.

Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella

When Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella is working in his fields, he hears the voice of a baseball announcer say, “If you build it, he will come.” Despite his growing financial problems on the farm, Kinsella decides to embark on a quest to construct a baseball field for his former hero Shoeless Joe Jackson. This is a
beautifully written story about the magic of baseball and the importance of family and dreams.

The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkien

The Hobbit is a fantasy book by J.R.R. Tolkien. For those of you who don't like long books or have trouble understanding complicated text then this 280 page book isn't for you. It's about a hobbit which is a small creature who lives in villages and never has any adventures, but one hobbit wanted to go on an adventure so he went to a wizard named "Gandalf" and together with some of their friends they went off to find the ring (as in The Lord of the Rings). Together they encounter grave perils and obstacles on their journey such as goblins, obstacles in the road, a war in process, and a dragon.

By: Michael Nashen

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver is an amazing book. If you like interesting science fiction books I strongly recommend this one. It is about a boy who lives in a community unlike the ones we live in today. In his world there are no mountains, no snow, no sun, no colors and no feelings like happiness, sadness or love. This boy realizes that his world is not the right way to live. He fights to get back the real world even if he knows that he will be in great danger and that he will have to leave a close friend. If I were you I would pick up this book right away and start reading. You will not regret it.

Zoe Rubin Sec. 1

Big Mouth & Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates

Watch what you say & where you say it!!

Sixteen-year-old Matt Donaghy (Big Mouth) is overheard joking about threatening to blow up his high school. This lands him in a lot of trouble and is labeled a suspected terrorist. His friends turn against him, making his life miserable, until an unlikely classmate comes to his aid. Ursula Riggs (Ugly Girl) is the only one willing to speak up on Matt’s behalf, in spite of her parents pleading with her not to get involved. Although Matt is eventually cleared, he is still treated like an outcast.

An account of friendship and family, loyalty and betrayal, this story is told from both characters’ perspectives, in alternating chapters.